"When you fled the Leaf, you should have brought it out, right?" Orochimaru smiled playfully.
He had mentioned the Sharingan at first, but what he really wanted was Hashirama's corpse.
After all, if he truly wanted Sharingan, he could seize them in the coming war.
For others, obtaining Sharingan is difficult.
For Orochimaru, it is only a matter of wanting or not.
Such confidence.
"Orochimaru, don't push it," Danzo growled, face dark.
"As they say, open high and settle low. If you think my terms are too harsh, we can negotiate," Orochimaru chuckled hoarsely.
"I can give you a vial of Hashirama's primary cells," Danzo said.
"No. At least an arm," Orochimaru replied.
"That is my bottom line."
"Good."
Danzo gave Orochimaru a long look.
"Straightforward. Give me Hashirama's arm first," Orochimaru said.
"Fine," Danzo answered.
He knew Orochimaru's nature.
Perhaps he was pragmatic,
but he generally kept his word.
And could Orochimaru really feel nothing over Hiruzen Sarutobi's death?
Danzo did not believe it.
"Later I'll have someone deliver it."
"When do we act?" Orochimaru asked.
"As soon as three days, as late as a week. I'll send word then," Danzo said.
"That would be best," Orochimaru smiled faintly,
then slowly sank into the ground.
"Lord Danzo."
Aburame Ryoma appeared at Danzo's side.
"Go call the Sarutobi brothers."
"Yes."
Before long, Aburame Ryoma brought Sarutobi Shinnosuke and Sarutobi Asuma to Danzo's location.
By then, the window in the dim room had been opened.
In broad daylight it no longer seemed so gloomy.
"Shinnosuke, Asuma, you're finally here," Danzo greeted them.
"Lord Danzo, aren't Lady Tsunade and Jiraiya here too? Why don't I see them?" Sarutobi Shinnosuke looked around, puzzlement flickering across his face.
"No rush. Let's talk first, then go see Tsunade and Jiraiya," Danzo said.
"What do you want to discuss with us brothers?" Shinnosuke asked.
"I am grieved by Lord Hiruzen's death," Danzo said, his face betraying none of that grief.
Shinnosuke was silent.
Asuma was silent.
"So I've decided to retake the Leaf. First, to destroy the evil Uchiha and reclaim Konoha. Second, to avenge Hiruzen, Koharu, and Homura," Danzo said.
"In top combat power we have me, Orochimaru, Lady Tsunade, and Jiraiya. What we lack now is a shinobi army to coordinate."
"Shinnosuke, Asuma, this army should come from the Sarutobi clan. No problem, right?" Danzo said.
The brothers exchanged a look, a glint of realization in both eyes.
Big brother guessed right, Asuma thought.
Shinnosuke stated on the spot, "No problem. Lord Danzo's cause is righteous, and the Sarutobi clan will cooperate."
"Shinnosuke, a sensible child who understands the greater good," Danzo nodded with satisfaction.
"Rest assured, Lord Danzo. Five hundred ninja of the Sarutobi clan will follow orders until Konoha is taken back," Shinnosuke pledged, thumping his chest.
Danzo's face darkened at once.
"Five hundred?"
"Five hundred," Shinnosuke confirmed.
"Shinnosuke, don't think I don't know how many people the Sarutobi have.
Setting aside the thousand who joined that battle and were wiped out,
at least three thousand of your clan escaped Konoha.
At such a critical moment,
you want to play clever with me?
Shinnosuke, do you still hold your father in your eyes?
Will you not avenge him?" Danzo said coldly.
"You misunderstand, Lord Danzo. The Sarutobi are a small house. We don't have that many people," Shinnosuke denied flatly.
"Enough. Those words can fool outsiders.
Trying them on me shows you look down on me.
Shinnosuke, the number of Sarutobi,
I, as Konoha's Root, know no less than the clan head himself.
Stop acting here.
I'm not asking for every last Sarutobi.
Give me two thousand and that will do."
Rage flashed in Shinnosuke's eyes.
The Sarutobi had a bit more than three thousand people, but only just about two thousand ninja.
Danzo wanted to scoop up the clan's entire fighting strength in one bite.
He showed no sense of proportion.
Facing Danzo,
Shinnosuke did not explode.
He only said coldly, "I'm sorry, Lord Danzo. The Sarutobi truly cannot produce that many."
"Shinnosuke, a man cannot always think only of himself. Learn from your father.
He often said, where the leaves dance, the fire burns. The fire will continue to illuminate the village and cause new leaves to sprout.
Now is the time to risk our lives to reclaim Konoha.
Do not drag everyone down.
Otherwise you will be sinners of the Leaf,
unworthy of your father's teaching,
and you will not let him rest in peace," Danzo's tone was calm,
but each sentence cut the brothers like a knife.
"Hearing you is exactly what would keep my father from resting in peace.
Danzo, you bastard. With so many people in the shinobi world, why fixate on the Sarutobi?" Asuma snapped.
"Because the Sarutobi belong to Konoha, and Konoha is at its hardest hour.
At this moment only the Sarutobi can field such a ninja army. If not you, who?
Remember this, Shinnosuke, Asuma. The Sarutobi reached this level
not because you were so outstanding,
but because Hiruzen drew far too many benefits from Konoha for your family.
You swallowed so much of the Leaf's dividends. Now it's your turn," Shimura Danzo said.
"Back then it wasn't just the Sarutobi taking dividends. There were the Shimura, the Mitokado, and the Utatane families," Asuma retorted.
"And now they have been wiped out. Only the Sarutobi remain," Danzo said.
Shinnosuke and Asuma fell silent.
Because Danzo was painfully right.
"Lord Danzo, two thousand ninja is too many. The Sarutobi do not even have that number. If I pull that many away, the remaining clanspeople will be lambs to the slaughter if anything happens," Shinnosuke said.
His meaning was clear.
Do not force me. Push me further and we go down together.
"Then eighteen hundred," Danzo said, taking a measured step back.
Shinnosuke almost spat blood.
"One thousand. That is the Sarutobi's utmost sincerity," Shinnosuke said.
"At least fifteen hundred, otherwise the force is too thin."
"At most twelve hundred. Any more and we part ways," Shinnosuke said, eyes closed, voice steady.
"Fine. Twelve hundred it is," Danzo decided on the spot.
He had wanted the Sarutobi to commit all their strength,
but they were not lambs to the slaughter.
Drive them too far,
and they would tear the mask off.
Know when to stop.
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